Ring of Fire 73km Run

Compulsory Gear:
This event requires the absolute full list of compulsory gear and is the same as Ring of Fire 50km entrants.  Please download this file Comp Gear 73km and 50km for details on exactly what is required so you are prepared.

Check out our sponsors, True Fleece Merino for your base layer long sleeve and beanie!

Minimum Age
Entrants must be 18 years on event day unless an exemption (based on previous performances) is granted by the Race Management team. Requests can be emailed to info@rof.co.nz

Entry Qualification
This event is a beast and you must be fully prepared to take on this distance and level of elevation change, high up in the mountains.  Our safety management plan is comprehensive and is resourced to respond to both well prepared entrants “having a bad day” and the usual spills an event like this usually has.  It is however critical that underprepared entrants in any specific distance are shifted to an alternate distance – one in which they feel fully prepared to meet the challenge ahead.  There is not one clear qualifying standard for the 73km event as such (that may come in future years).  For the 2022 event, you’ll be asked to submit answers to some simple questions shown below during the online registration process.

In accordance with our Safety Management documentation and upon reviewing your supplied info, our course team reserves the right to:
– Request additional/updated information/evidence of preparedness from you.
– Downgrade your entry to a shorter distance (appropriate refunds will be made in these scenerios)

Tracks & Terrain Used:
The event is held on the Ruapehu Around the Mountain Track.  The Ring of Fire 73km starts and finish at the Chateau Tongariro and will consist of three legs as described at the bottom of this page.

Elevation: (MASSIVE!!)
3370m Up
3370m Down.

Drop Bag Service:
Anytime during the Friday event registration, 73km athletes can provide our crew with specific gear/food/drink that they would like available to them at either the Ohakune Mountain Road Aid Station (end of Leg 1) or the Tukino Access Road Aid Station (end of Leg 2). All gear must be in your own bags (ideally super noticeable to you).  Make sure your bags are sealed, compact and have your name on them. We will also provide ID stickers relevant to which aid station and ensure they are available to you at each aid station. There is no spectator access to the end of Leg 2 aid station, hence the drop bag service.  Drop bags will be returned to the Tongariro Registration Room following the closure of the respective Aid Stations.   You will need your event number to pick up your drop bags at the finish area on Saturday.  Depending on timelines gear bags can also be collected Sunday morning from us.

Aid Stations x2

While it’s strongly recommended for entrants to be self sufficient on course,  (and to absolutely take advantage of the drop bag service), the event will have medical support, food, shelter and drinks available to entrants at both aid stations.  You’ll have the ability to fill up water supplies,  enjoy a cold cup of R-Line electrolyte or Coke, a hot cup of coffee/tea/tomato soup, and a quick snack on chips/lollies or a Peanut Butter/Jam Sammie.

A Cupless Event:
We are not providing cups at the Aid Stations because we are trying to minimise the waste created from the event. Please bring your own cup or cups.  There are some very good silicone cups for sale in NZ.

Time Spent In The Dark:
You may spend up to 6 hours in the dark on the course if you are towards the tail end.   In the morning you have a 4.20am start with sunrise not until 7.12am.  In the evening (if still on course) you have sunset at 7.43pm and a course cut-off of 11.00pm

Course Cut-Off Times:
There are 4 course cut-off points to think about as shown below.  In previous versions of the Ring of Fire event, entrants have been given up to 20 hours to complete the course.  For the 2022  event that time limit is reduced to 18.5 hours (i.e the tail needs to go approx 30 mins quicker on each leg than previous years). If you are concerned about the cut-off times, please remember the full 73km is no easy undertaking.  We do have the 50km Ring of Fire to consider for 2022 until you feel more prepared to tackle the Ring of Fire 73km course.
– Course Cut-Off to Start Leg 2 – 11.00am
– Course Cut-Off to Start Leg 3 – 5.30pm
– Course Cut-Off to leave Waihohonu Hut – 7.15pm
– Course Cut-Off at Chateau Tongariro – 11.00pm

Parking and Transport Info:
There will be plenty of parking made available around the Chateau Tongariro for your early morning start line adventure.  As the event starts and finishes at the Chateau Tongariro there is no bus transport associated with this distance.